9
If now the city is given to someone as an inheritance, how will the heir receive the inheritance unless by passing through the appointed danger?"
10
I said, "That is right, lord." He said to me, "So also is Israel's portion.
11
For I made the world for their sake, and when Adam transgressed my statutes, what had been made was judged.
12
And so the entrances of this world were made narrow and sorrowful and toilsome; they are few and evil, full of dangers and involved in great hardships.
13
But the entrances of the greater world are broad and safe, and yield the fruit of immortality.
14
Therefore unless the living pass through the difficult and futile experiences, they can never receive those things that have been reserved for them.
15
Now therefore why are you disturbed, seeing that you are to perish? Why are you moved, seeing that you are mortal?
16
Why have you not considered in your mind what is to come, rather than what is now present?"
17
Then I answered and said, "O sovereign Lord, you have ordained in your law that the righteous shall inherit these things, but that the ungodly shall perish.
18
The righteous, therefore, can endure difficult circumstances while hoping for easier ones; but those who have done wickedly have suffered the difficult circumstances and will never see the easier ones."
19
He said to me, "You are not a better judge than the Lord, or wiser than the Most High!